For more than a century Maidenhead’s antiquated, charmingly ramshackle York Road ground has played host to the noble game of football, the River Thames serenely flowing behind its ancient bounds, host to the wealthy Lotus Eaters that laze beside its lapping waters or poot-poot up and down Father Thames in a variety of eccentric aquatic craft. Stark contrast to the epicurean pleasure seekers was the scenario that unfolded but a stone’s throw from the indolent pleasures of a summer’s afternoon of affluent Buckinghamshire for on the once green sward of York Road, two sides were engaged in battle royal as both moved into the final phases of pre-season preparation. Naught but pride may have been a stake, but neither the hosing Magpies nor the visiting Hamlet were prepared to give quarter in a contest either could have won but neither deserved to lose and where the art of goalkeeping was displayed to its full by a teenage tyro and a Portuguese journeyman.
Having impressed in a late cameo role for a Hamlet XI at Burnham, Jamie Cheeseman was given a chance to display his talents from the off but catching the eye as the Hamlet dominated the early exchanges were full-backs Jason Turley and Billy Warner, whose piercing raids down either wing causing the host defence no end of problems. With the midfield ferocious in the tackle, the Magpies had little time to settle on the ball and had it not been for one-time Benfica keeper, Chico Ramos, between the sticks Hamlet might well have raced into an early lead. Ohran Stewart was first to be denied, meeting a ball into the box to crack a flying first time volley goalwards only for Ramos to pull off an equalling mouth-watering save flinging himself left to parry the ball away. This was nothing in comparison to the reaction save on his line he later pulled off to prevent Jean-Serge Musungu putting Hamlet ahead as the Dulwich striker produced a breathtaking overhead kick inside the six yard box that seemed destined to find the net. All the Magpies had to show in reply was wasteful drive from Yashwa Romeo flying high over the terraces when it seemed easily to find the target.
At last after 33 minutes the Hamlet made their dominance tell, though the impressive Ramos was left cursing his luck as Jason Turley blistering shot at the end of determined charge up field took a cruel deflection off a defender, beating the outstretched fingertips of Ramos as he clawed at the air. The upright came to his rescue but momentarily as Stewart reacted with alacrity to bravely fling himself headlong at the rebound and nod the ball into the now unguarded net. Stung into action the Magpies woke from their slumber and but for the bravery of Chris Lewington might have levelled within seconds as Danny Burnell slipped his leash, only for the young Hamlet stopper to smoother his effort. However that was but a momentary reprieve and a minute later Maidenhead had regained parity, Romeo bullying his way through the Dulwich defence and letting rip with a searing low drive that gave Lewington not an iota of a chance as it found its way unerringly to the far corner of the net.
Beaten but not bowed, young Lewington was in no mood to let another past him and before the break would again deny Burnell as the striker once again slipped the ties of his marker. For Dulwich Turley was left frustrated, playing a one-two with David Moore on the corner of the penalty area, latching on to his team-mates cheeky back flick but failing to find the target as his volley bounced wide of Ramos’ far upright.
Hamlet made a number of changes at the break, among them Youth Team goal machine Sol Pinnock, and it took a while before they again found the rhythm that had allowed their midfield to hold sway for so much of that exhilarating first half. This was quickly capitalised on by the Magpies and but for an outstanding display from the impervious Lewington, in supreme form, a nemesis to all, in particular Burnell who seemed cursed not to score as Lewington produced a string of top drawer saves. Best amongst a master class of shot stopping was an matchless effort to batter away a close range piledriver from Romeo, stretching to sweep a low rightwing cross goalwards with the force of a bullet. Running this close in a panoply of custodial prestidigitation was a stunning save to deny Burnell as not once but twice as the striker burst into the area.
Buoyed by this, Dulwich might well have come away victorious as they mounted a late rally to threaten the hosts’ goal in the closing moments. A bullish run from substitute Daniel Jones pierced the Magpies right flank, the striker dragging the ball back into the six yard box where Nicolas Plumain was desperately unlucky to see his close range effort deflected wide. From the resultant corner, Gavin Dayes was left unmarked to meet the ball with his head but a wayward header troubled none but the ball boys who would have to recover the ball from beyond the terraces. Still there was time for Luke Cornwall to seal victory as he beat an offside trap applied rigorously by the home defence, but with only the keeper to beat dragged an angled shot wide.
Team:
DHFC: Chris Lewington; Jason Turley; Billy Warner; Gavin Dayes; Daniel Nwanze; Jamie Coyle; David Moore; Ohran Stewart; Jean-Serge Musungu; Carlton Murray-Price; Jamie Cheeseman
Subs used: Luke Cornwall; Sol Pinnock; Kenny Beaney; Nicolas Plumain; Chris Hurst; Matt Dean; Daniel Jones
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